Police Rescue Two Colombian Women Held Captive In Lagos

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the National Central Bureau of INTERPOL, Lagos Annex, have rescued two Colombian nationals allegedly lured to Nigeria and held captive by a suspected human trafficking syndicate.

The victims, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa, were rescued following actionable intelligence received from INTERPOL-NCB, Bogotá, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

The two women were reportedly fraudulently lured to Nigeria and subsequently held against their will. Their travel documents were also allegedly confiscated by suspected members of the trafficking syndicate.

According to the police, the suspects believed to be responsible for the women’s captivity are Chinese nationals who are currently at large.

The operation was carried out by police operatives following the intelligence received through INTERPOL channels. The information enabled the authorities to locate the victims and secure their release.

The rescue highlights the importance of international cooperation in tackling human trafficking and other forms of organised crime involving the movement of victims across national borders.

INTERPOL’s National Central Bureaus serve as key channels for cooperation between law enforcement agencies in different countries, allowing authorities to exchange intelligence and coordinate investigations involving transnational criminal activities.

In this case, information originating from Bogotá helped Nigerian authorities respond to the alleged trafficking of the two Colombian women and ultimately secure their rescue.

Following their recovery, the victims are expected to receive appropriate support and assistance while investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding their arrival in Nigeria and their alleged detention.

The police are also expected to work with relevant authorities to establish the full extent of the trafficking operation and determine whether other individuals were involved.

The Chinese nationals identified as suspects remain at large, and efforts are expected to intensify to locate and apprehend them.

Investigators will also seek to establish how the victims were recruited, the promises made to them before travelling to Nigeria and the purpose for which they were allegedly brought into the country.

The case underscores the dangers posed by international trafficking networks that use deception to lure individuals across borders before subjecting them to exploitation and unlawful confinement.

The Nigeria Police Force is expected to provide further updates as the investigation progresses.

Authorities have continued to encourage the public to provide credible information that could assist law enforcement agencies in locating suspects involved in trafficking and other organised criminal activities.

The successful rescue of the two Colombian nationals is expected to strengthen the ongoing investigation and efforts to dismantle the syndicate allegedly responsible for their ordeal.